Kurken Alemshah
Encyclopedia
Kurken M. Alemshah (May 22, 1907 – December 14, 1947) was an Armenian
composer and conductor.
, Turkey
). He began schooling in his own hometown, but during the 1915 Ottoman atrocities
his parents sent the young boy to Italy
to continue his education in the Murat-Raphaelian Armenian School in Venice
. In 1923, when his teachers there became aware of his striking musical gifts, they registered him at the Milan Conservatory
to study music.
Following his graduation, Alemshah joined the faculty of the Paris
branch of the Murat-Raphaelian school, where he organized the Giligia choir, performing not only in Paris, but also traveling to Venice, directing the choir in an all-Komitas program at St. Mark's Square. Alemshah continued to introduce the Armenian song to all music lovers: he presented Tchouhadjian's popular comic opera Leblebidji Hor-Hor Agha (The Chickpea Vendor), and Haygagan harsanik (The Armenian Wedding), a composition put together by combining Alemshah's own melodies with popular songs. In 1937, Haygagan harsanik received second prize in an international competition to which twenty nations participated.
Concurrently, Alemshah conducted the Alakyaz Choir on a number of occasions, initially to mark the establishment of the Soviet regime in Armenia, and later to benefit the Armenian War Relief efforts. In 1939, he was appointed conductor of the Sipan-Komitas Chorus. He conducted Tigranian
's opera Anush and performed the Armenian Divine Liturgy
in a number of French
cathedrals.
In the fall of 1947, Alemshah visited the United States
for a series of appearances. In October, he conducted a concert at Town Hall, NY, devoted to Armenian orchestral and choral music. On December 14, 1947 he died in Detroit of a heart attack, a day before he was scheduled to perform in the city.
Alemshah sang with an individual voice. His music exhibits fluid and elegant melodies, exquisite refinement and poise. His feeling for poetic atmosphere—and the craftsmanship he used to communicate it—was unique, giving his songs a rare musical substance and emotional intensity.
Some of his scores were published in Paris in 1947 and his manuscripts are reposited in the Charents Museum of Literature and Arts
in Armenia. A CD of Alemshah's complete solo songs, performed by Elisabeth Pehlivanian, and some of his choral works rendered by Komitas Chamber Choir have been released.
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
composer and conductor.
Biography
Alemshah was born in Bardizag (now Bahçecik, near İzmitIzmit
İzmit is a city in Turkey, administrative center of Kocaeli Province as well as the Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality. It is located at the Gulf of İzmit in the Sea of Marmara, about east of Istanbul, on the northwestern part of Anatolia. The city center has a population of 294.875...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
). He began schooling in his own hometown, but during the 1915 Ottoman atrocities
Armenian Genocide
The Armenian Genocide—also known as the Armenian Holocaust, the Armenian Massacres and, by Armenians, as the Great Crime—refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I...
his parents sent the young boy to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
to continue his education in the Murat-Raphaelian Armenian School in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
. In 1923, when his teachers there became aware of his striking musical gifts, they registered him at the Milan Conservatory
Milan Conservatory
The Milan Conservatory is a college of music which was established by a royal decree of 1807 in Milan, capital of the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy. It opened the following year with premises in the cloisters of the Baroque church of Santa Maria della Passione. There were initially 18 boarders,...
to study music.
Following his graduation, Alemshah joined the faculty of the Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
branch of the Murat-Raphaelian school, where he organized the Giligia choir, performing not only in Paris, but also traveling to Venice, directing the choir in an all-Komitas program at St. Mark's Square. Alemshah continued to introduce the Armenian song to all music lovers: he presented Tchouhadjian's popular comic opera Leblebidji Hor-Hor Agha (The Chickpea Vendor), and Haygagan harsanik (The Armenian Wedding), a composition put together by combining Alemshah's own melodies with popular songs. In 1937, Haygagan harsanik received second prize in an international competition to which twenty nations participated.
Concurrently, Alemshah conducted the Alakyaz Choir on a number of occasions, initially to mark the establishment of the Soviet regime in Armenia, and later to benefit the Armenian War Relief efforts. In 1939, he was appointed conductor of the Sipan-Komitas Chorus. He conducted Tigranian
Armen Tigranian
Armen Tigranian was an Armenian music composer and conductor. His best-known works were two national operas, Anoush and Davit Bek ; the latter of which premiered only months before his death and was his final composition...
's opera Anush and performed the Armenian Divine Liturgy
Armenian Apostolic Church
The Armenian Apostolic Church is the world's oldest National Church, is part of Oriental Orthodoxy, and is one of the most ancient Christian communities. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion in 301 AD, in establishing this church...
in a number of French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
cathedrals.
In the fall of 1947, Alemshah visited the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for a series of appearances. In October, he conducted a concert at Town Hall, NY, devoted to Armenian orchestral and choral music. On December 14, 1947 he died in Detroit of a heart attack, a day before he was scheduled to perform in the city.
Alemshah sang with an individual voice. His music exhibits fluid and elegant melodies, exquisite refinement and poise. His feeling for poetic atmosphere—and the craftsmanship he used to communicate it—was unique, giving his songs a rare musical substance and emotional intensity.
Some of his scores were published in Paris in 1947 and his manuscripts are reposited in the Charents Museum of Literature and Arts
Charents Museum of Literature and Arts
The Charents Museum of Literature and Arts of Armenia is the largest repository of Armenian manuscripts and books encompassing the last three hundred years....
in Armenia. A CD of Alemshah's complete solo songs, performed by Elisabeth Pehlivanian, and some of his choral works rendered by Komitas Chamber Choir have been released.
Solo vocal
- Բուխուրիկ • Pukhurig (Stovepipe, 1934)
- Իմ երգը • Im yerkı (My Song)
- Ես սիրեցի • Yes siretsi (I Loved)
- Իմ եարը • Im yarı (My Beloved)
- Աղուորներուն • Aghvornerun (For the Lovely Maidens)
- Նազեր • Nazer (Coyness)
- Ծաղիկ էի • Dzaghig ei (I Was a Flower)
- Իղձ • Ights (Desire)
- Սիրելիս • Sirelis (My Love)
- Պճինկօ • Bjingo (A Coquette)
Choral
- Հայաստան • Hayasdan (Armenia)
- Անուշիկ յար ճան • Anushig yar jan (Beautiful Sweatheart)
- Մեր պարտիզում • Mer bardizum (In Our Garden)
- Հունձք • Huntsk (Harvest)
- Պլպուլն Աւարայրի • Blbuln Avarayri (The Nightingale of Avarayr)
Orchestral
- Արեւելեան գիշերներ • Arevelyan kisherner (Oriental Nights, 1931)
- Հէքեաթ • Hekyat (A Tale)
- Երկու պատմուածք հազար ու մէկ գիշերներէն • Yergu badmvadzk hazar u meg kisherneren (Two Stories from The Book of One Thousand and One Nights)
CD Recordings
- Elisabeth Pehlivanian - Songs with piano
- Armenian Composers of Asia Minor - Choral works
- Komitas
- The Battle of Avarayr